Isaiah Chapter 23 — The Prophecy Against Tyre
This chapter contains a prophecy of destruction for the wealthy maritime cities of Tyre and Sidon, followed by a promise of future restoration after seventy years.
1The burden of Tyre.
2Be still, you inhabitants of the coast, you whom the merchants of Sidon that pass over the sea have replenished.
3On great waters, the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue. She was the market of nations.
4Be ashamed, Sidon; for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying, “I have not travailed, nor given birth, neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.”
5When the report comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish at the report of Tyre.
6Pass over to Tarshish! Wail, you inhabitants of the coast!
7Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days, whose feet carried her far away to travel?
8Who has planned this against Tyre, the giver of crowns, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the honorable of the earth?
9The LORD of Armies has planned it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.
10Pass through your land like the Nile, daughter of Tarshish. There is no restraint any more.
11He has stretched out his hand over the sea. He has shaken the kingdoms. The LORD has ordered the destruction of Canaan’s strongholds.
12He said, “You shall rejoice no more, you oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, pass over to Kittim. Even there you will have no rest.”
13Behold, the land of the Chaldeans. This people didn’t exist. The Assyrians founded it for those who dwell in the wilderness. They set up their towers. They overthrew its palaces. They made it a ruin.
14Howl, you ships of Tarshish, for your stronghold is laid waste!
15It will come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. After the end of seventy years it will be to Tyre like in the song of the prostitute.
16Take a harp; go about the city, you prostitute that has been forgotten. Make sweet melody. Sing many songs, that you may be remembered.
17It will happen after the end of seventy years that the LORD will visit Tyre. She will return to her wages, and will play the prostitute with all the kingdoms of the world on the surface of the earth.
18Her merchandise and her wages will be holiness to the LORD. It will not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise will be for those who dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Isaiah 23:9
“The LORD of Armies has planned it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.”
This verse explains the divine purpose behind the city's downfall, which is to humble human pride and self-exaltation.
Isaiah 23:18
“Her merchandise and her wages will be holiness to the LORD. It will not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise will be for those who dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.”
It describes a future state where the city's commercial wealth is dedicated to God's service and the needs of His people rather than personal gain.
Chapter Summary
Isaiah 23 delivers a prophetic oracle against Tyre, a prominent Phoenician port city known as the market of nations. The prophecy describes the mourning of merchants and the inhabitants of the coast as their stronghold is laid waste, affecting trade as far as Egypt and Tarshish. The text attributes this destruction to the Lord of Armies, who intends to humble the pride and glory of the earth's honorable traders. The city is predicted to be forgotten for seventy years, a period equated to the days of one king. Following this time, Tyre is described as returning to her commerce, engaging with the kingdoms of the world like a forgotten prostitute seeking to be remembered through song. However, the chapter concludes with a transformation: her merchandise and wages will eventually be dedicated as holiness to the Lord, used to provide food and clothing for those who dwell before Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the text, the Lord planned the destruction of Tyre to stain the pride of all glory and bring contempt upon the honorable of the earth. As a major center of trade and wealth, the city’s pride was the primary reason for the prophecy of its downfall.
The prophecy states that Tyre would be forgotten for seventy years, which is described as being 'according to the days of one king.' After this designated period, the Lord would visit the city again.
The chapter concludes by stating that Tyre's merchandise and wages would become 'holiness to the LORD.' Instead of being stored up for the city's own benefit, the wealth would be used to provide food and clothing for those who dwell before the Lord.
Study Note
Tyre was a major Phoenician island-city renowned for its maritime strength and was considered the commercial hub of the ancient Mediterranean world.
Related Chapters
Ezekiel Chapter 26
Ezekiel provides another detailed and lengthy prophecy regarding the siege and destruction of the city of Tyre.
Zechariah Chapter 9
This chapter contains a similar prophetic oracle mentioning the judgment of Tyre and Sidon despite their great wealth.
Jeremiah Chapter 25
Jeremiah also references the seventy-year period of judgment that parallels the timeframe mentioned for Tyre.
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